Today, we need to go beyond the – extremely reductive – European policy of standardisation, towards a community policy aiming to develop social services of general interest (SSGI), to raise awareness of their specific contribution in all Member States, and to raise the visibility of good practices, in particular those of the social economy sector.

The acute economic and social crisis affecting all the Member States of the European Union (EU) accentuates existing problems of precarious work and unemployment, of poverty and social exclusion, of income inequality and of access to social rights. SSGI have played an important ‘shock absorber’ role in addressing the crisis, but also a social innovation role.

These are of crucial importance to attain the fundamental objectives of the EU such as social, economic and territorial cohesion, a high level of employment, social inclusion and economic growth. SSGI are an integral part of the European social model.

The directive on free movement of services in the internal market, the regulations on state aids and the European directives on public markets directly affect the implementation, regulation and financing of SSGI, and yet they currently do not benefit from a positive definition in European law.

This is why we demand that an institutionalised European policybe put in place to recognize, promote and develop SSGI of high quality. Concretly :

- Create a European ressource centre for SSGI, that would be the technical reference point between Member States, the Commission (and other EU organs) and representatives of Civil Society at European level. It would facilitate dialogue between the stakeholders.

- Establish a European fund for social innovation which aims to support and develop civil society organisations’ capacity for experimenting and innovation in relation to SSGI.